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But maybe you're thinking of something that could go wrong with my philosophy that I'm not seeing. Please tell me what you were thinking.

I understand you wanting to have a pleasant encounter every morning with the other collectors/scalpers and trying to be nice and social by having a conversation with them, especially when you are seeing them so frequently during the week. It's just that them knowing your financial status, might work against you. For example, last year I bought a new car and I remember Boxcar Willie (HW collector and "friend" to plumber Bob) telling me outside of target "Wow, it must be nice to be rich" as if I had just bought a Ferrari or something. For god's sake, it's a f***ing Toyota! Then I changed the wheels and rims and since, they think I must make a lot of money or something. They asked me how much I make and why do I bother going every morning to the store since I make so much money and could easily buy the stuff from ebay and have it delivered to my door. They now feel they have more rights to the stuff, because (in their minds) they have a financial handicap and I don't.
Sometimes when you are nice, people take advantage of that. I like to talk to people waiting outside the doors, but try to keep the subject about toys. If I feel the person has things in common with me, like a family, a job, etc. I might open up. But if it's a lowlife, who lives out of taking advantage of the system (gets workers comp., wellfare, etc. but can wake up every morning and run for Hot Wheels ), doesn't bathe, works in the porn industry, goes to Tijuana to have sex with minors (yes, I've heard one of this characters talking about doing this), then I don't think I will tell them much about me.
I don't know Tycho, maybe I'm just being too paranoid.

Alhambra TRU had 3 of the Bantha battlepacks this evening. They were all sagging a little though. I already have one, but I'm reporting it in case anyone wants one. Other than that, they didn't have much of anything. 3 TAC 2 figures: two ceremonial Luke's and one Han.

Rosemead Target still has plenty of Order 66, but Pico Rivera Target is starting to run out. It seems the sets with the 501st Airborne and Bow are being bought more than the others.

They asked me how much I make and why do I bother going every morning to the store since I make so much money and could easily buy the stuff from ebay and have it delivered to my door. They now feel they have more rights to the stuff, because (in their minds) they have a financial handicap and I don't.

This is excellent stuff! I should have thought of that. I'll answer you because we're having a conversation about it, but I'm only preaching to the choir here.

1) Even if you have money, it is not limitless, and part of keeping it safe is not wasting it - say by paying over 3x retail for components to your hobby. Especially like how I want 4 Eopies (TPM) which I've never gotten. They are $45 or more on average on eBay, haven't checked for a while though. But they will be $19.99 in a battlepack if Hasbro re-issues them - with young Beru and Owen even if they are generous about it. Why pay over 5x the price there? Boxcar Willie, Headphones, etc. are just looking to earn a client with you. It's akin to a real estate agent asking you "how are the wife and kids?"

2) I luckily have almost no competition for Star Wars. The Hot Wheels guys who are regulars at my store, aren't scalpers, and they don't touch it. The one Star Wars guy who does show, collects 1-2 of everything and that's it. He's not really big competition, and won't come when he doesn't need anything. But you can tell he might be annoyed because if he does come and has to share with me, he might need to continue making trips to the store that we usually leave empty handed from.

3) If I bought from eBay or scalpers-dealers, it would help hurt everyone here, and raise the number of scalpers going for the stuff and make it harder for this one Star Wars guy, too. (He was nice today, btw) He just shares more comradery with the Hot Wheels guys. I also figure I'm the youngest there (maybe - it's a close call). But the Hot Wheels guys (most of them) are nicer to me than someone in my own hobby. Whatever.

BAD Pts Need:R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.

El Puerco lives! unfortunately i saw him this morning at La Brea Target

Los Feliz TRU had all 4 of the exclusive titanium ultras this afternoon. i picked up the JSF. i also saw a wave 2 figure for the first time - Luke, but passed on it. if only i had gone there for opening instead of La Cienega TRU, i might've scored some of the other wave 2's.

I saw the Titanium Ultra Anakin Jedi Starfighter at TRU the other day. I have to admit it looked nice. I didn't post about it though as I don't collect those. Maybe I should have said something though.

The X-wing was there, too. I was curious, so I counted the wing stripes: 3.

That's Biggs Darklighter's ship! Sort of cool. It's off scale to the Jedi Starfighter though. The X-wing should be huge next to Anakin's little ship.

BAD Pts Need:R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.